NEWS BRIEF The foreign minister of Luxembourg has said in an interview that Hungary’s treatment of refugees, and the state of its judiciary and media were violations of the European Union’s fundamental values, and suggested the country should be “excluded” temporarily or forever to protect the bloc’s values.
Jean Asselborn’s remarks to Die Welt, the German newspaper, comes as all of the EU’s leaders (with the exception of the U.K.’s prime minister) meet in Slovakia on Friday to discuss the bloc’s future.
“We cannot accept that the fundamental values of the European Union are being massively violated,” Asselborn said.
He cited fences erected by Hungary to keep out asylum-seekers fleeing civil war in Syria and unrest elsewhere, as well as reported violations of the freedom of press and the judiciary by the country’s right-wing government. He said because of those steps, Hungary should be “excluded temporarily or if need be for ever from the EU.” It’s the only way, he said, to “ensure that the values of the EU are preserved.”
Asselborn criticized the policy of Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, suggesting the country was treating those fleeing war “worse than wild animals.” “Hungary is not far away from issuing orders to fire on refugees,” he said. “Anyone who wants to cross the fence must expect the worst.”